TNAA Healthcare provided this article.
This will be the first holiday season away from home for thousands of new travelers. For some travel nurses, their family is why they began traveling because they want to earn money that gives their loved ones better lives. Spending this cherished time away from them can be taxing on mental health.
So, how do you prepare to be away during the holidays and set your mental wellness up for success? We reached out to our experienced TNAA ambassadors to get their advice for a holiday season well spent.
Preparing for Travel Nursing During the Holidays:
Don’t Spend It Alone
Our ambassadors’ greatest piece of advice is to team up with fellow travelers or locals on the unit to celebrate the holiday. Getting together to share favorite traditions and side dishes or laugh at a ridiculous holiday movie is a great way to bond and expand your network of friends. Following this advice has been the source of some of their most cherished memories.
Stay Busy
Some travelers cope best by staying busy and choosing to work the holiday. While it’s a bummer not being around your loved ones, it can feel good to know you’re giving staff nurses the opportunity to be at home with their families.
And, if you’re working, know that you are the source of holiday spirit for your patients, so have fun! Get creative with decorations or play festive music on your unit to brighten their spirits.
Plan a Video Call
As one of our ambassadors said, a video call “is a great way to feel included with your family while not being physically present.” Schedule a video call with your family and use the time to open a present or two to feel like you’re part of their festivities that day.
Celebrate Again When You’re Together
A perk part about being a travel nurse is that you can take extended periods off between assignments. So, if you find yourself working on a holiday, plan to celebrate it in full force when you’re back home – even if it is a couple of weeks or months afterward. Your family probably won’t mind leaving the tree up a little longer, baking and decorating treats, or sipping hot cocoa to get into the holiday spirit when you’re together again. After all, it’s not when you celebrate but who you celebrate with that counts the most.
Ask About Your Agency’s Resources
Additionally, whether you’re working the holiday or not, make sure you’re familiar with any mental wellness resources your agency offers in case you, a coworker, or a loved one might need them. The holidays aren’t always merry and bright like we want them to be. Sometimes, the holidays can be difficult to get through for a variety of reasons. Knowing the mental wellness resources accessible to you can set you up for success in the moments when a helping hand or comforting word are most-needed. Are you debating whether you should take off a few days for the holidays or work through them? Read our previous blog highlighting tips for having happy holidays on or off the job.
We hope you found this article on preparing for travel nursing during the holidays helpful. Do you have any tips to share with fellow travel nurses for preparing for holidays as a travel nurse? Comment them below.
Our job board is a great place to search for your next travel nurse assignment. We have you covered with our housing page if housing is an issue. You can search for what you are looking for.
